VdP des Collines Rhodaniennes

We know all about Stéphane’s reputation in Côte-Rôtie; but he is also burdened with the mantle of the leading producer in the ancient Seyssuel vineyards above Vienne. Micro-schist gives this an extraordinary wine a Côte Blonde elegance: violets, dense, dark fruit and very finely etched tannins are all evidenced. As with his Rosine this too is currently a Vin de Pays, but is sure to be promoted to full appellation status soon. 
Drink 2017-2021.
Simon Field MW – Wine Buyer

Stéphane is confident that Seyssuel will eventually get its own Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée, although not, it seems, before having to pass through a stage as a humble Côtes du Rhône. No matter; he has done more than anyone to raise the profile of these rediscovered ancient vines. Their soils resemble Côte Blonde and their aspect approximates that of Hermitage. The happy coincidence of these features has fathered a wine of aromatic harmony and great latent power.
Simon Field MW - Rhône Buyer

Stéphane has come a long way in the 12 years or so that I have known him: he now has two children, an enviable reputation and a construction project to the south of Ampuis which will result in a winery to rival that of Messrs Guigal. He has also been buying land, which is no mean feat in Côte Rôtie. The challenge of 2013 centred on the cool weather in the middle of the season. Very late green harvesting and then a rapid harvest before the rains in October were key. I recall visiting during the harvest and witnessing a maelstrom of carefully choreographed activity, if you will pardon the apparent contradiction. The effort has certainly paid off.

A schistous sister for the Côte Rôtie, ‘L’Ame Soeur’ is the fruit of Stéphane’s venture in his Vienne vineyard, which is located to the north of Ampuis in Seyssuel on the site of ancient Roman plantations. Closer geographically to the Côte Brune, the soils are in fact closer in character to those of the Côte Blonde; indeed Stéphane is of the opinion that ,as the vines become mature, they will prove to be even better. The 2010 is certainly very impressive, with a charming spicy nose and notes of bacon fat, raspberry and peat on the palate, all wrapped in silky tannins.
Simon Field MW, BBR Buyer, February 2012

Young, dynamic and handsome, Stéphane Ogier has had another good year, purchasing some more prime vineyards, making some fantastic 2010s and celebrating the birth of his first son, Marius. His wine-making philosophy is intriguing, minutely sensitive to the requirements of both the vintage and the parcel in question. As a generalisation he prefers new wood and destemming for the Côte Blonde, and older wood and less destemming in the Côte Brune. But there are always exceptions... and the wines are always exceptional...

Best-value Northern Rhône Red
The wines of Seyssuel may currently be classified as Vin de Pays, but I think the quality easily justifies it having its own appellation. No doubt this will happen as some stage; we will be hearing more and more about this emerging area of the Northern Rhône. A floral nose leads to lots of spicy and smoky notes across the palate. Cool, succulent dark fruit with an attractive creaminess, cleansing acidity and an anise finish. A vin de plaisir
Martin Rolph, Private Account Manager

Elegantly styled and full of quality, this strikes an instant sense of complexity with spicy wild strawberries and black cherries on the nose. A bit of hedonistic pleasure isn’t far behind though as the palate is pure and silky smooth, before soft and clean tannins give a very fresh feel to the finish.
Guy Davies, Wine Team

L’Ame Sœur is now recognised as one of the most successful of the Seyssuel projects, that is to say the vineyards that have been revitalised above Vienne on the East side of the River… the subtle differences in aspect and soil (mica-schist in essence) are captured, enticingly, in an example which glories in pavonine complexity on the finish.
Simon Field MW, Rhône Wine Buyer

If one is permitted to assess the quality of a vigneron by the number of eager Antipodean cellar rats helping out at vintage time, then Stéphane Ogier appears to be the man of the moment. If one takes the more traditional approach of assessing quality by analysis of what is in the glass, or what is in the barrel, then he is definitely the man of the moment. He compares it to 2010, which is praise indeed.

The 2011 L’Âme Soeur is as good as ever. Produced from vines grown on micro-schist in Seyssuel north of Côte-Rôtie on the left bank of the Rhône, this has become a serious cuvée despite its relatively young 13-year-old vines. Seyssuel is an area were the first Roman vineyards were built and it lay barren after the destruction of the vineyards by phylloxera at the end of the 19th century. The vineyards are steep (up to 50 gradient like Côte-Rôtie itself) and were first replanted in 1996. 14 growers are now located in Seyssuel and in 2012 they all applied to receive AOP status. L’Âme Soeur is rich and spicy on the nose, with good mouthfeel and flavours of rich warm exotic fruit on the palate. As the vines grow older, this cuvée is becoming more and more exciting.
Fine Wine Team

We know all about Stéphane’s reputation in Côte-Rôtie. He is also burdened with the mantle of being the leading producer in the ancient Seyssuel vineyards above Vienne. Micro-schist gives this an extraordinary wine a Côte Blonde elegance, with violets, dense, dark fruit and very finely etched tannins causing one to consider withdrawing the statement made at the end of the La Rosine note above. This too is currently a Vin de Pays, but it is sure to be promoted to full appellation status soon.
Simon Field MW, BBR Buyer

Stéphane Ogier is now, arguably, the leading producer in Côte-Rôtie. Confident, modest and courteous, in short he is the perfect ambassador for the appellation. Stéphane now farms 12 parcels in Côte-Rôtie and has also launched a well-named Côtes du Rhône (Le Temps est Venu which we will sell elsewhere). He held his nerve through the rainy patches in September and the relatively late-picking has been rewarded with a superb range of wines. Stéphane compares their style, with more acidity and less alcohol than usual, to 2006, a vintage which has developed very nicely indeed.

Notes of violets, pepper and spice define this wine which will age for at least ten years.

Stephane Ogier is without doubt one of the most brilliant winemakers in the Cote Rotie appellation in the northern Rhone, displaying a masterly touch with the Syrah grape. A recent discovery in the region is the existence of vineyards in Roman times around the town of Vienne, just a few miles outside Cote Rotie. A number of growers, of which Stephane is one, have re-planted the area and the results are astonishing. The wines have to labelled, for now at least, as Vin de Pays, but in many ways they bear a close resemblance to Cote Rotie; this has a wonderful brambly nose with hints of smoky black pepper, a gamey meaty texture on the palate, rounded off with a finesse and elegance which one expects from the best Syrah of this area. A real discovery. From the other end of the appellation, in fact from the ancient vines around Seyssuel, another Vin De Pays, this time dominated by schist soils. A fascinating wine, with robust tannins, notes of tapenade and sousbois and a rich finish. Will work well, given time, with venison or partridge.
Simon Field M.W. - Rhône Buyer